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I surveyed 60 hospice nurses regarding their knowledge and attitudes toward the near-death experience (NDE), using Thornburg's Near Death Phenomena Knowledge and Attitudes Questionnaire. Most hospice nurses had previous work experience with an NDEr. Approximately half the nurses were knowledgeable about the NDE. All participants had a positive attitude toward near-death phenomena and toward caring for an NDEr. Rec ommendations include near-death phenomena inservice education for hospice nurses and inclusion of NDE content in nursing education programs.The near-death experience (NDE) is a topic of increasing controver sial concern, especially among paraprofessionals and health care pro fessionals providing holistic care to the terminally ill client. The NDE can be summarized as a close encounter with death having sequential components that culminate in a spiritual event. Thus this spiritual event encompasses physiological involvement, a mental meta morphosis, and an apparent encounter with a spiritual being (Moody, 1975;Ring, 1984;Moody and Perry, 1988

Pytochrome mediates two effects of light on transcription of genes encoding the small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase in dark-grown pea (Pisum sativum) plants. One response is an initial transient increase in the rate of small subunit gene transcription which results in the accumulation of a small, but relatively stable, amount of small subunit mRNA. The second is the induction of the capacity for high rates of small subunit gene transcription when plants are subsequently illuminated with white light.

This paper reports the first systematic survey of the marine turtles of the 80 km of Gambian coastline, and brings together new data and all past records and reports of marine turtles in The Gambia. Green turtles Chelonia mydas are the most abundant turtles and this is the only species so far observed nesting in The Gambia, with peak nesting between August and October. Although 75% (60 km) of The Gambian coastline appears to be suitable for turtle nesting, most nesting activity is confined to the southern coastline. Offshore foraging habitat is apparently extensive. Strandings of green turtles, olive ridley turtles Lepidochelys olivacea, leatherback turtles Dermochelys coriacea and hawksbill turtles Eretmochelys imbricata have been recorded, but we were unable to find evidence for loggerhead turtles Caretta caretta. Threats are mainly of human origin, and include illegal harvesting of eggs, juveniles and adults, as well as mortality as fisheries bycatch, including trawling. One stranded green turtle apparently had fibropapilloma disease. The major threat to nesting habitats is erosion and unregulated development of the coast for tourism. Marine turtles are fully protected under Gambian law. Other national efforts to conserve turtles in The Gambia are described and assessed.